Health Insurance Plan (HIP/HMO)

Transcription

1 Health Insurance Plan (HIP/HMO) Customer Service HIP-TALK ( ) A Health Maintenance Organization (high and standard option) 2013 Serving: Greater New York City Area (including Long Island and surrounding counties) Enrollment in this plan is limited. You must live in our geographic service area to enroll. See page 12 for requirements. IMPORTANT Rates: Back Cover Changes for 2013: Page 13 Summary of benefits: Page 75 This plan has Excellent Accreditation from the NCQA. See 2013 Guide for more information on accreditation. Enrollment codes for this Plan: 511 High Option Self Only 512 High Option Self and Family 514 Standard Option Self Only 515 Standard Option Self and Family RI

2 Important Notice from HIP Health Plan of New York About Our Prescription Drug Coverage and Medicare OPM has determined that HIP Health Plan of New York s prescription drug coverage is, on average, expected to pay out as much as the standard Medicare prescription drug coverage will pay for all plan participants and is considered Creditable Coverage. Thus you do not need to enroll in Medicare Part D and pay extra for prescription drug benefit coverage. If you decide to enroll in Medicare Part D later, you will not have to pay a penalty for late enrollment as long as you keep your FEHB coverage. However, if you choose to enroll in Medicare Part D, you can keep your FEHB coverage and your FEHB plan will coordinate benefits with Medicare. Remember: If you are an annuitant and you cancel your FEHB coverage, you may not re-enroll in the FEHB Program. Please be advised If you lose or drop your FEHB coverage and go 63 days or longer without prescription drug coverage that s at least as good as Medicare s prescription drug coverage, your monthly premium will go up at least 1% per month for every month that you did not have that coverage. For example, if you go 19 months without Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, your premium will always be at least 19 percent higher than what many other people pay. You ll have to pay this higher premium as long as you have Medicare prescription drug coverage. In addition, you may have to wait until the next Annual Coordinated Election Period (October 15th through December 7th) to enroll in Medicare Part D. Medicare s Low Income Benefits For people with limited income and resources, extra help paying for a Medicare prescription drug plan is available. Information regarding this program is available through the Social Security Administration (SSA) online at www. socialsecurity.gov, or call the SSA at (TTY ). You can get more information about Medicare prescription drug plans and the coverage offered in your area from these places: Visit for personalized help. Call MEDICARE ( ), TTY

3 Table of Contents Introduction...3 Plain Language...4 Stop Health Care Fraud!...4 Preventing Medical Mistakes...5 FEHB Facts...7 Coverage information...7 No pre-existing condition limitation...7 Where you can get information about enrolling in the FEHB Program...7 Types of coverage available for you and your family...7 Family member coverage...8 Children s Equity Act...8 When benefits and premiums start...9 When you retire...9 When you lose benefits...9 When FEHB coverage ends...9 Upon divorce...9 Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC)...10 Converting to individual coverage...10 Getting a Certificate of Group Health Plan Coverage...10 Section 1. How this plan works...11 General features of our High and Standard Options...11 How we pay providers...11 Your rights...11 Your medical and claims records are confidential...11 Service area...12 Section 2. Changes for Program-wide changes...13 Changes to this Plan...13 Section 3. How you get care...14 Identification cards...14 Where you get covered care...14 Plan providers...14 Plan facilities...14 What you must do to get covered care...14 Primary care...14 Specialty care...14 Hospital care...15 If you are hospitalized when your enrollment begins...15 You need prior plan approval for certain services...15 Inpatient hospital admission...15 Other services requiring our Prior Approval...16 How to request prior approval for an admission or get prior approval for Other services...16 Non-urgent care claims...17 Urgent care claims...17 Emergency inpatient admission...17 If your treatment needs to be extended Health Insurance Plan (HIP/HMO) 1 Table of Contents

4 How to request prior approval for Prescription Drugs...17 How to request prior approval for Specialty Pharmacy Drugs...19 Circumstances beyond our control...19 If you disagree with our pre-service claim decision...19 To reconsider a non-urgent care claim...19 To reconsider an urgent care claim...19 To file an appeal with OPM...19 Section 4. Your costs for covered services...20 Cost-sharing...20 Coinsurance...20 Copayments...20 Deductible...20 Your catastrophic protection out-of-pocket maximum...20 When Government facilities bill us...20 Section 5. High and Standard Option Benefits...21 High and Standard Option Benefits...21 Non-FEHB benefits available to Plan members...54 Section 6. General exclusions services, drugs and supplies we do not cover...56 Section 7. Filing a claim for covered services...57 Section 8. The disputed claims process...59 Section 9. Coordinating benefits with Medicare and other coverage...62 When you have other health coverage...62 What is Medicare?...62 Should I enroll in Medicare?...63 The Original Medicare Plan (Part A or Part B)...63 Tell us about your Medicare coverage...64 Medicare Advantage (Part C)...64 Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D)...64 TRICARE and CHAMPVA...66 Workers Compensation...66 Medicaid...66 When other Government agencies are responsible for your care...66 When others are responsible for injuries...66 When you have Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Plan (FEDVIP) coverage...66 Clinical Trials...66 Section 10. Definitions of terms we use in this brochure...68 Section 11. Other Federal Programs...71 The Federal Flexible Spending Account Program FSAFEDS...71 The Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program - FEDVIP...72 The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program - FLTCIP...72 Index...74 Summary of benefits for the High Option of HIP/HMO Summary of benefits for the Standard Option of HIP/HMO Rate Information for Health Insurance Plan (HIP/HMO) Health Insurance Plan (HIP/HMO) 2 Table of Contents

5 Introduction This brochure describes the benefits of HIP Health Plan of New York (HIP/HMO) under our contract (CS 1040) with the United States Office of Personnel Management, as authorized by the Federal Employees Health Benefits law. Customer service may be reached at HIP-TALK ( ) or through our website: The address for the Health Insurance Plan (HIP/HMO) administrative offices is: HIP Health Plan of New York 55 Water Street New York, NY This brochure is the official statement of benefits. No oral statement can modify or otherwise affect the benefits, limitations, and exclusions of this brochure. It is your responsibility to be informed about your health benefits. If you are enrolled in this plan, you are entitled to the benefits described in this brochure. If you are enrolled in Self and Family coverage, each eligible family member is also entitled to these benefits. You do not have a right to benefits that were available before January 1, 2013, unless those benefits are also shown in this brochure. OPM negotiates benefits and rates with each plan annually. Benefit changes are effective January 1, 2013, and changes are summarized on page 13. Rates are shown at the end of this brochure Health Insurance Plan (HIP/HMO) 3 Introduction/Plain Language/Advisory

6 Plain Language All FEHB brochures are written in plain language to make them easy to understand. Here are some examples: Except for necessary technical terms, we use common words. For instance, you means the enrollee or family member, we means HIP Health Plan of New York. We limit acronyms to ones you know. FEHB is the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. OPM is the United States Office of Personnel Management. If we use others, we tell you what they mean first. Our brochure and other FEHB plans brochures have the same format and similar descriptions to help you compare plans. Stop Health Care Fraud! Fraud increases the cost of health care for everyone and increases your Federal Employees Health Benefits Program premium. OPM s Office of the Inspector General investigates all allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse in the FEHB Program regardless of the agency that employs you or from which you retired. Protect Yourself From Fraud Here are some things that you can do to prevent fraud: Do not give your plan identification (ID) number over the telephone or to people you do not know, except to your health care providers, authorized health benefits plan or OPM representative. Let only the appropriate medical professionals review your medical record or recommend services. Avoid using health care providers who say that an item or service is not usually covered, but they know how to bill us to get it paid. Carefully review explanations of benefits (EOBs) that you receive from us. Periodically review your claims history for accuracy to ensure we have not been billed for services that you did not receive. Do not ask your doctor to make false entries on certificates, bills or records in order to get us to pay for an item or service. If you suspect that a provider has charged you for services you did not receive, billed you twice for the same service, or misrepresented any information, do the following: - Call the provider and ask for an explanation. There may be an error. - If the provider does not resolve the matter, call us at TELL-HIP and explain the situation. - If we do not resolve the issue: CALL - THE HEALTH CARE FRAUD HOTLINE OR go to You can also write to: United States Office of Personnel Management Office of the Inspector General Fraud Hotline 1900 E Street NW Room 6400 Washington, DC Do not maintain as a family member on your policy: 2013 Health Insurance Plan (HIP/HMO) 4 Introduction/Plain Language/Advisory

7 - Your former spouse after a divorce decree or annulment is final (even if a court order stipulates otherwise) - Your child age 26 or over (unless he/she was disabled and incapable of self-support prior to age 26) If you have any questions about the eligibility of a dependent, check with your personnel office if you are employed, with your retirement office (such as OPM) if you are retired, or with the National Finance Center if you are enrolled under Temporary Continuation of Coverage. Fraud or intentional misrepresentation of material fact is prohibited under the plan. You can be prosecuted for fraud and your agency may take action against you. Examples of fraud include falsifying a claim to obtain FEHB benefits, trying to or obtaining services or coverage for yourself or for someone else who is not eligible for coverage, or enrolling in the plan when you are no longer eligible. If your enrollment continues after you are no longer eligible for coverage (i.e. you have separated from Federal service) and premiums are not paid, you will be responsible for all benefits paid during the period in which premiums were not paid. You may be billed by your provider for services received. You may be prosecuted for fraud for knowingly using health insurance benefits for which you have not paid premiums. It is your responsibility to know when you or a family member is no longer eligible to use your health insurance coverage. Preventing Medical Mistakes An influential report from the Institute of Medicine estimates that up to 98,000 Americans die every year from medical mistakes in hospitals alone. That s about 3,230 preventable deaths in the FEHB Program a year. While death is the most tragic outcome, medical mistakes cause other problems such as permanent disabilities, extended hospital stays, longer recoveries, and even additional treatments. By asking questions, learning more and understanding your risks, you can improve the safety of your own health care, and that of your family members. Take these simple steps: 1. Ask questions if you have doubts or concerns. Ask questions and make sure you understand the answers. Choose a doctor with whom you feel comfortable talking. Take a relative or friend with you to help you ask questions and understand answers. 2. Keep and bring a list of all the medicines you take. Bring the actual medicines or give your doctor and pharmacist a list of all the medicines and dosage that you take, including non-prescription (over-the-counter) medicines and nutritional supplements. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about any drug allergies you have. Ask about any risks or side effects of the medication and what to avoid while taking it. Be sure to write down what your doctor or pharmacist says. Make sure your medicine is what the doctor ordered. Ask the pharmacist about your medicine if it looks different than you expected. Read the label and patient package insert when you get your medicine, including all warnings and instructions. Know how to use your medicine. Especially note the times and conditions when your medicine should and should not be taken. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. 3. Get the results of any test or procedure. Ask when and how you will get the results of tests or procedures. Don t assume the results are fine if you do not get them when expected, be it in person, by phone, or by mail. Call your doctor and ask for your results. Ask what the results mean for your care Health Insurance Plan (HIP/HMO) 5 Introduction/Plain Language/Advisory

8 4. Talk to your doctor about which hospital is best for your health needs. Ask your doctor about which hospital has the best care and results for your condition if you have more than one hospital to choose from to get the health care you need. Be sure you understand the instructions you get about follow-up care when you leave the hospital. 5. Make sure you understand what will happen if you need surgery. Make sure you, your doctor, and your surgeon all agree on exactly what will be done during the operation. Ask your doctor, Who will manage my care when I am in the hospital? Ask your surgeon: - "Exactly what will you be doing?" - "About how long will it take?" - "What will happen after surgery?" - "How can I expect to feel during recovery?" Tell the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and nurses about any allergies, bad reaction to anesthesia, and any medications you are taking. "Patient Safety Links" The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality makes available a wide-ranging list of topics not only to inform consumers about patient safety but to help choose quality health care providers and improve the quality of care you receive. The National Patient Safety Foundation has information on how to ensure safer health care for you and your family. The National Council on Patient Information and Education is dedicated to improving communication about the safe, appropriate use of medicines. The Leapfrog Group is active in promoting safe practices in hospital care. The American Health Quality Association represents organizations and health care professionals working to improve patient safety. WhyNotTheBest was created and is maintained by The Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation working toward a high performance health system. WhyNotTheBest includes process-of-care measures, patient satisfaction measures (from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems), readmission rates, mortality rates, and average reimbursement rates. "Never Events" You will not be billed for inpatient services related to treatment of specific hospital acquired conditions or for inpatient services needed to correct never events, if you use HIP preferred providers. This policy helps to protect you from preventable medical errors and improve the quality of care you receive. When you enter the hospital for treatment of one medical problem, you don't expect to leave with additional injuries, infections or other serious conditions that occur during the course of your stay. Although some of these complications may not be avoidable, too often patients suffer from injuries or illnesses that could have been prevented if the hospital had taken proper precautions. We have a benefit payment policy that encourages hospitals to reduce the likelihood of hospital-acquired conditions such as certain infections, severe bedsores and fractures; and reduce medical errors that should never happen called "Never Events". When a Never Event occurs, neither your FEHB plan nor you will incur costs to correct the medical error Health Insurance Plan (HIP/HMO) 6 Introduction/Plain Language/Advisory

9 FEHB Facts Coverage information No pre-existing condition limitation Where you can get information about enrolling in the FEHB Program We will not refuse to cover the treatment of a condition you had before you enrolled in this plan solely because you had the condition before you enrolled. See for enrollment information, as well as: Information on the FEHB Program and plans available to you A health plan comparison tool A list of agencies who participate in Employee Express A link to Employee Express Information on and links to other electronic enrollment systems Also, your employing or retirement office can answer your questions, and give you a Guide to Federal Benefits, brochures for other plans, and other materials you need to make an informed decision about your FEHB coverage. These materials tell you: When you may change your enrollment How you can cover your family members What happens when you transfer to another Federal agency, go on leave without pay, enter military service, or retire What happens when your enrollment ends When the next open season for enrollment begins We don t determine who is eligible for coverage and, in most cases, cannot change your enrollment status without information from your employing or retirement office. For information on your premium deductions, you must also contact your employing or retirement office. Types of coverage available for you and your family Self Only coverage is for you alone. Self and Family coverage is for you, your spouse, and your dependent children, including any foster children your employing or retirement office authorizes coverage for. Under certain circumstances, you may also continue coverage for a disabled child 26 years of age or older who is incapable of self-support. If you have a Self Only enrollment, you may change to a Self and Family enrollment if you marry, give birth, or add a child to your family. You may change your enrollment 31 days before to 60 days after that event. The Self and Family enrollment begins on the first day of the pay period in which the child is born or becomes an eligible family member. When you change to Self and Family because you marry, the change is effective on the first day of the pay period that begins after your employing office receives your enrollment form; benefits will not be available to your spouse until you marry. Your employing or retirement office will not notify you when a family member is no longer eligible to receive benefits, nor will we. Please tell us immediately of changes in family member status including your marriage, divorce, annulment, or when your child reaches age 26. If you or one of your family members is enrolled in one FEHB plan, that person may not be enrolled in or covered as a family member by another FEHB plan. If you have a qualifying life event (QLE) such as marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child outside of the Federal Benefits Open Season, you may be eligible to enroll in the FEHB Program, change your enrollment, or cancel coverage. For a complete list of QLEs, visit the FEHB website at If you need assistance, please contact your employing agency, personnel/payroll office, or retirement office Health Insurance Plan (HIP/HMO) 7 FEHB Facts

10 Family member coverage Family members covered under your Self and Family enrollment are your spouse (including a valid common law marriage) and children as described in the chart below. Children Natural, adopted children, and stepchildren Foster Children Children Incapable of Self-Support Married Children Children with or eligible for employerprovided health insurance Coverage You can find additional information at Natural, adopted children and stepchildren are covered until their 26 th birthday. Foster children are eligible for coverage until their 26 th birthday if you provide documentation of your regular and substantial support of the child and sign a certification stating that your foster child meets all the requirements. Contact your human resources office or retirement system for additional information. Children who are incapable of self-support because of a mental or physical disability that began before age 26 are eligible to continue coverage. Contact your human resources office or retirement system for additional information. Married children (but NOT their spouse or their own children) are covered until their 26th birthday. Children who are eligible for or have their own employer-provided health insurance are covered until their 26th birthday. Children s Equity Act OPM has implemented the Federal Employees Health Benefits Children s Equity Act of This law mandates that you be enrolled for Self and Family coverage in the FEHB Program, if you are an employee subject to a court or administrative order requiring you to provide health benefits for your child(ren). If this law applies to you, you must enroll for Self and Family coverage in a health plan that provides full benefits in the area where your children live or provide documentation to your employing office that you have obtained other health benefits coverage for your children. If you do not do so, your employing office will enroll you involuntarily as follows: If you have no FEHB coverage, your employing office will enroll you for Self and Family coverage in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan s Basic Option; If you have a Self Only enrollment in a fee-for-service plan or in an HMO that serves the area where your children live, your employing office will change your enrollment to Self and Family in the same option of the same plan; or If you are enrolled in an HMO that does not serve the area where the children live, your employing office will change your enrollment to Self and Family in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan s Basic Option Health Insurance Plan (HIP/HMO) 8 FEHB Facts

11 As long as the court/administrative order is in effect, and you have at least one child identified in the order who is still eligible under the FEHB Program, you cannot cancel your enrollment, change to Self Only, or change to a plan that doesn t serve the area in which your children live, unless you provide documentation that you have other coverage for the children. If the court/administrative order is still in effect when you retire, and you have at least one child still eligible for FEHB coverage, you must continue your FEHB coverage into retirement (if eligible) and cannot cancel your coverage, change to Self Only, or change to a plan that doesn t serve the area in which your children live as long as the court/administrative order is in effect. Contact your employing office for further information. When benefits and premiums start The benefits in this brochure are effective January 1. If you joined this Plan during Open Season, your coverage begins on the first day of your first pay period that starts on or after January 1. If you changed plans or plan options during Open Season and you receive care between January 1 and the effective date of coverage under your new plan or option, your claims will be paid according to the 2013 benefits of your old plan or option. However, if your old plan left the FEHB Program at the end of the year, you are covered under that plan s 2012 benefits until the effective date of your coverage with your new plan. Annuitants coverage and premiums begin on January 1. If you joined at any other time during the year, your employing office will tell you the effective date of coverage. If your enrollment continues after you are no longer eligible for coverage (i.e. you have separated from Federal service) and premiums are not paid, you will be responsible for all benefits paid during the period in which premiums were not paid. You may be billed for services received directly from your provider. You may be prosecuted for fraud for knowingly using health insurance benefits for which you have not paid premiums. It is your responsibility to know when you or a family member are no longer eligible to use your health insurance coverage. When you retire When you lose benefits When FEHB coverage ends When you retire, you can usually stay in the FEHB Program. Generally, you must have been enrolled in the FEHB Program for the last five years of your Federal service. If you do not meet this requirement, you may be eligible for other forms of coverage, such as Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC). You will receive an additional 31 days of coverage, for no additional premium, when: Your enrollment ends, unless you cancel your enrollment; or You are a family member no longer eligible for coverage. Any person covered under the 31 day extension of coverage who is confined in a hospital or other institution for care or treatment on the 31 st day of the temporary extension is entitled to continuation of the benefits of the Plan during the continuance of the confinement but not beyond the 60 th day after the end of the 31 day temporary extension. You may be eligible for spouse equity coverage or Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC), or a conversion policy (a non-fehb individual policy.) Upon divorce If you are divorced from a Federal employee or annuitant, you may not continue to get benefits under your former spouse s enrollment. This is the case even when the court has ordered your former spouse to provide health coverage for you. However, you may be eligible for your own FEHB coverage under either the spouse equity law or Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC). If you are recently divorced or are anticipating a divorce, contact your ex-spouse s employing or retirement office to get RI 70-5, the Guide To Federal Benefits for Temporary Continuation of Coverage and Former Spouse Enrollees, or other information about your coverage choices. You can also download the guide from OPM s Web site, Health Insurance Plan (HIP/HMO) 9 FEHB Facts

12 Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) If you leave Federal service, or if you lose coverage because you no longer qualify as a family member, you may be eligible for Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC). For example, you can receive TCC if you are not able to continue your FEHB enrollment after you retire, if you lose your Federal job, if you are a covered dependent child and you turn 26. You may not elect TCC if you are fired from your Federal job due to gross misconduct. Enrolling in TCC. Get the RI 79-27, which describes TCC, and the RI 70-5, the Guide to Federal Benefits for Temporary Continuation of Coverage and Former Spouse Enrollees, from your employing or retirement office or from It explains what you have to do to enroll. Converting to individual coverage You may convert to a non-fehb individual policy if: Your coverage under TCC or the spouse equity law ends (if you canceled your coverage or did not pay your premium, you cannot convert); You decided not to receive coverage under TCC or the spouse equity law; or You are not eligible for coverage under TCC or the spouse equity law. If you leave Federal service, your employing office will notify you of your right to convert. You must apply in writing to us within 31 days after you receive this notice. However, if you are a family member who is losing coverage, the employing or retirement office will not notify you. You must apply in writing to us within 31 days after you are no longer eligible for coverage. Your benefits and rates will differ from those under the FEHB Program; however, you will not have to answer questions about your health, and we will not impose a waiting period or limit your coverage due to pre-existing conditions. Getting a Certificate of Group Health Plan Coverage The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a Federal law that offers limited Federal protections for health coverage availability and continuity to people who lose employer group coverage. If you leave the FEHB Program, we will give you a Certificate of Group Health Plan Coverage that indicates how long you have been enrolled with us. You can use this certificate when getting health insurance or other health care coverage. Your new plan must reduce or eliminate waiting periods, limitations, or exclusions for health related conditions based on the information in the certificate, as long as you enroll within 63 days of losing coverage under this Plan. If you have been enrolled with us for less than 12 months, but were previously enrolled in other FEHB plans, you may also request a certificate from those plans. For more information, get OPM pamphlet RI 79-27, Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) under the FEHB Program. See also the FEHB Web site at health; refer to the TCC and HIPAA frequently asked questions. These highlight HIPAA rules, such as the requirement that Federal employees must exhaust any TCC eligibility as one condition for guaranteed access to individual health coverage under HIPAA, and information about Federal and State agencies you can contact for more information Health Insurance Plan (HIP/HMO) 10 FEHB Facts

13 Section 1. How this plan works This plan is a health maintenance organization (HMO). We require you to see specific physicians, hospitals, and other providers that contract with us. These Plan providers coordinate your health care services. The Plan is solely responsible for the selection of these providers in your area. Contact the Plan for a copy of their most recent provider directory. We give you a choice of enrollment in a High Option or a Standard Option. HMOs emphasize preventive care such as routine office visits, physical exams, well-baby care, and immunizations, in addition to treatment for illness and injury. Our providers follow generally accepted medical practice when prescribing any course of treatment. When you receive services from plan providers, you will not have to submit claim forms or pay bills. You pay only the copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles described in this brochure. When you receive emergency services from non-plan providers, you may have to submit claim forms. You should join an HMO because you prefer the plan s benefits, not because a particular provider is available. You cannot change plans because a provider leaves our plan. We cannot guarantee that any one physician, hospital, or other provider will be available and/or remain under contract with us. Questions regarding what protections apply may be directed to us at HIP-TALK ( ). You can also read additional information from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at This plan is a "non-grandfathered health plan" under the Affordable Care Act. A non-grandfathered plan must meet immediate health care reforms legislated by the Act. Specifically, this plan must provide preventive services and screenings to you without any cost sharing; you may choose any available primary care provider for adult and pediatric care; visits for obstetrical or gynecological care do not require a referral; and emergency services, both in- and out-of-network, are essentially treated the same (i.e., the same cost sharing, no greater limits or requirements for one over the other; and no prior authorizations). Questions regarding what protections apply may be directed to us at HIP-TALK ( ). You can also read additional information from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at General features of our High and Standard Options How we pay providers We contract with individual physicians, medical groups, and hospitals to provide the benefits in this brochure. These plan providers accept a negotiated payment from us, and you will only be responsible for your copayments or coinsurance. Your rights OPM requires that all FEHB Plans provide certain information to their FEHB members. You may get information about us, our networks, providers, and facilities. OPM s FEHB website ( lists the specific types of information that we must make available to you. Some of the required information is listed below. The HIP Health Plan of New York (HIP) was organized over 60 years ago as a non-profit corporation. On December 1, 1978, HIP became a New York certified Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). Responsibility for HIP/HMO policy and operations is vested in an unpaid Board of Directors. This Board is composed of distinguished representatives of labor, consumers, doctors and the general public. The Board selects the principal administrative officer, the President, and holds him responsible for the enforcement of Board policy and for the operations of the Plan. HIP/HMO has Excellent Accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). If you want more information about us, call HIP-TALK ( ), or write to HIP Health Plan of New York, 55 Water Street, New York, NY You may also visit our website at Your medical and claims records are confidential 2013 Health Insurance Plan (HIP/HMO) 11 Section 1

14 We will keep your medical and claims records confidential. Please note that we may disclose your medical and claims information (including your prescription drug utilization) to any of your treating physicians or dispensing pharmacies. Service area To enroll in this plan, you must live in or work in our service area. This is where our providers practice. Our service area is: New York City (the Boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island), all of Nassau, Orange, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester Counties. Ordinarily, you must get your care from providers who contract with us. If you receive care outside our service area, we will pay only for emergency care benefits. We will not pay for any other health care services out of our service area unless the services have prior plan approval. If you or a covered family member move outside of our service area, you can enroll in another plan. If your dependents live out of the area (for example, if your child goes to college in another state), you should consider enrolling in a fee-for-service plan or an HMO that has agreements with affiliates in other areas. If you or a family member move, you do not have to wait until Open Season to change plans. Contact your employing or retirement office Health Insurance Plan (HIP/HMO) 12 Section 1

15 Section 2. Changes for 2013 Do not rely only on these change descriptions; this Section is not an official statement of benefits. For that, go to Section 5 Benefits. Also, we edited and clarified language throughout the brochure; any language change not shown here is a clarification that does not change benefits. Program-wide changes Removed annual limits on essential health benefits as described in Section 1302 of the Affordable Care Act. Plans must provide coverage for routine patient costs for items and services furnished in connection with participation in an approved clinical trial. Coverage with no cost sharing for additional preventive care and screenings for women provided in comprehensive guidelines adopted by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Changes to this Plan HMO Standard Option: Specialist copayment increased to $50 per visit. Emergency room copayment increased to $150 per visit. The copay is waived if you are admitted to a hospital. Ambulatory surgery copayment increased to $150 per visit. Prescription Drug copayments for generic formulary drugs increased to $20 for up to a 30-day supply at a participating retail pharmacy with a $100 calendar year deductible. The Prescription Drug copayment will remain $30 for brand name formulary drugs and $50 for non-formulary drugs at a participating retail pharmacy with a $100 calendar year deductible. Prescription Drug copayments for generic formulary drugs increased to $30 for up to a 90-day supply by mail order with a $100 calendar year deductible. The Prescription Drug copayment will remain $45 for brand name formulary drugs for up to a 90-day supply by mail order with a $100 calendar year deductible. HMO High Option: Primary Care Physician copayment increased to $20 per visit. Specialist copayment increased to $40 per visit. Emergency room copayment increased to $150 per visit. The copay is waived if you are admitted to a hospital. Ambulatory surgery copayment increased to $150 per visit. Prescription Drug copayments for generic formulary drugs increased to $20 for up to a 30-day supply at a participating retail pharmacy with a $100 calendar year deductible. The Prescription Drug copayment will remain $30 for brand name formulary drugs and $50 for non-formulary drugs at a participating retail pharmacy, with the addition of a $100 calendar year deductible. Prescription Drug copayments for generic formulary drugs increased to $30 for up to a 90-day supply by mail order with a $100 calendar year deductible. The Prescription Drug copayment will remain $45 for brand name formulary drugs for up to a 90-day supply by mail order with the addition of a $100 calendar year deductible. Changes to High Option Your share of the non-postal premium will increase for Self Only and increase for Self and Family. See page 77. Your share of the Postal premium will increase for Self Only and increase for Self and Family. See page 77. Changes to Standard Option Your share of the non-postal premium will increase for Self Only and increase for Self and Family. See page 77. Your share of the Postal premium will increase for Self Only and increase for Self and Family. See page Health Insurance Plan (HIP/HMO) 13 Section 2

16 Section 3. How you get care Identification cards We will send you an identification (ID) card when you enroll. You should carry your ID card with you at all times. You must show it whenever you receive services from a plan provider, or fill a prescription at a plan pharmacy. Until you receive your ID card, use your copy of the Health Benefits Election Form, SF-2809, your health benefits enrollment confirmation letter (for annuitants), or your electronic enrollment system (such as Employee Express) confirmation letter. If you do not receive your ID card within 30 days after the effective date of your enrollment, or if you need replacement cards, call us at HIP-TALK ( ) or write to us at HIP Health Plan of New York, 55 Water Street, New York, NY You may also request replacement cards through our Web site: www. emblemhealth.com. Where you get covered care Plan providers You get care from plan providers and plan facilities. You will only pay copayments, deductibles, and/or coinsurance, you can also get care from non-plan providers but it will cost you more. Plan providers are physicians and other health care professionals in our service area that we contract with to provide covered services to our members. We credential plan providers according to national standards. We list plan providers in the provider directory, which we update periodically. The list is also available on our website at Plan facilities What you must do to get covered care Primary care Plan facilities are hospitals and other facilities in our service area that we contract with to provide covered services to our members. We list these in the provider directory, which we update periodically. The list is also on our Web site at It depends on the type of care you need. First, you and each family member must choose a primary care physician. This decision is important since your primary care physician provides or arranges for most of your health care. Your primary care physician can be a family practitioner, internist, pediatrician. Your primary care physician will provide most of your health care, or give you a referral to see a specialist. If you want to change primary care physicians or if your primary care physician leaves the plan, call us. We will help you select a new one. Specialty care Your primary care physician will refer you to a specialist for needed care. When you receive a referral from your primary care physician, you must return to the primary care physician after the consultation, unless your primary care physician authorized a certain number of visits without additional referrals. The primary care physician must provide or authorize all follow-up care. Do not go to the specialist for return visits unless your primary care physician gives you a referral. Here are some other things you should know about specialty care: If you need to see a specialist frequently because of a chronic, complex, or serious medical condition, your primary care physician will develop a treatment plan that allows you to see your specialist for a certain number of visits without additional referrals. Your primary care physician will use our criteria when creating your treatment plan (the physician may have to get an authorization or approval beforehand) Health Insurance Plan (HIP/HMO) 14 Section 3

17 If you are seeing a specialist when you enroll in our plan, talk to your primary care physician. If he or she decides to refer you to a specialist, ask if you can see your current specialist. If your current specialist does not participate with us, you must receive treatment from a specialist who does. Generally, we will not pay for you to see a specialist who does not participate with our Plan. If you are seeing a specialist and your specialist leaves the plan, call your primary care physician, who will arrange for you to see another specialist. You may receive services from your current specialist until we can make arrangements for you to see someone else. If you have a chronic and disabling condition and lose access to your specialist because we: - terminate our contract with your specialist for other than cause; - drop out of the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program and you enroll in another FEHB program plan; or - reduce our service area and you enroll in another FEHB Plan, you may be able to continue seeing your specialist for up to 90 days after you receive notice of the change. Contact us, or if we drop out of the Program, contact your new plan. If you are in the second or third trimester of pregnancy and you lose access to your specialist based on the above circumstances, you can continue to see your specialist until the end of your postpartum care, even if it is beyond the 90 days. Hospital care If you are hospitalized when your enrollment begins Your plan primary care physician or specialist will make necessary hospital arrangements and supervise your care. This includes admission to a skilled nursing or other type of facility. We pay for covered services from the effective date of your enrollment. However, if you are in the hospital when your enrollment in our plan begins, call our customer service department immediately at HIP-TALK ( ). If you are new to the FEHB Program, we will arrange for you to receive care and provide benefits for your covered services while you are in the hospital beginning on the effective date of your coverage. If you changed from another FEHB plan to us, your former plan will pay for the hospital stay until: you are discharged, not merely moved to an alternative care center; the day your benefits from your former plan run out; or the 92 nd day after you become a member of this plan, whichever happens first. These provisions apply only to the benefits of the hospitalized person. If your plan terminates participation in the FEHB Program in whole or in part, or if OPM orders an enrollment change, this continuation of coverage provision does not apply. In such cases, the hospitalized family member s benefits under the new plan begin on the effective date of enrollment. You need prior plan approval for certain services Inpatient hospital admission Since your primary care physician arranges most referrals to specialists and inpatient hospitalization, the pre-service claim approval process only applies to care shown under Other services requiring our Prior Approval. Prior Approval is the process by which - prior to your inpatient hospital admission - we evaluate the medical necessity of your proposed stay and the number of days required to treat your condition. Inpatient admissions include non emergency procedures that provide acute, rehabilitation and skilled nursing care Health Insurance Plan (HIP/HMO) 15 Section 3

18 Other services requiring our Prior Approval Your primary care physician has authority to refer you for most services. For certain services, however, your physician must obtain prior approval from us. Before giving approval, we consider if the service is covered, medically necessary, and follows generally accepted medical practice. The following are services that require prior approval: Inpatient non emergency procedures that provide acute, rehabilitation and skilled nursing care. All outpatient invasive and surgical procedures and treatments in a facility or doctor's office. Inpatient treatment of Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorder, Detoxification treatment of Substance Use Disorder, and Rehabilitation treatment of Substance Use Disorder. Non-routine outpatient treatment of Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorder, which includes: - partial hospitalization; - intensive outpatient treatment; - ambulatory detoxification treatment; - outpatient ECT (electro-convulsive treatment); - neuropsychological testing; and - psychological testing. Non emergent transportation. Home Health Care. Hospice Care. Services obtained by Non-Participating Providers with specialty expertise. Pre-transplant evaluation and transplant services. Outpatient cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation. Outpatient Diagnostic Radiology Services. Outpatient Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapies. Radiation Oncology. Pain Management. Sleep Studies. Advanced molecular diagnostics and genetic testing. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Experimental and/or Investigational Treatments and Procedures. How to request prior approval for an admission or get prior approval for Other services First, your physician, your hospital, you, or your representative, must call us at before admission or services requiring prior approval are rendered. Next, provide the following information: enrollee's name and plan identification number; patient's name, birth date, identification number and phone number; reason for hospitalization, proposed treatment, or surgery; name and phone number of admitting physician; name of hospital or facility; and number of planned days of confinement Health Insurance Plan (HIP/HMO) 16 Section 3

19 Non-urgent care claims For non-urgent care claims, we will then tell the physician and/or hospital the number of approved inpatient days, or the care that we approve for other services that must have prior approval. We will make our decision within 15 days of receipt of the pre-service claim. If matters beyond our control require an extension of time, we may take up to an additional 15 days for review and we will notify you of the need for an extension of time before the end of the original 15 day period. Our notice will include the circumstances underlying the request for the extension and the date when a decision is expected. If we need an extension because we have not received necessary information from you, our notice will describe the specific information required and we will allow you up to 60 days from the receipt of the notice to provide the information. Urgent care claims If you have an urgent care claim (i.e., when waiting for the regular time limit for your medical care or treatment could seriously jeopardize your life, health, or ability to regain maximum function, or in the opinion of a physician with knowledge of your medical condition, would subject you to severe pain that cannot be adequately managed without this care or treatment), we will expedite our review and notify you of our decision within 72 hours. If you request that we review your claim as an urgent care claim, we will review the documentation you provide and decide whether it is an urgent care claim by applying the judgment of a prudent layperson who possesses an average knowledge of health and medicine. If you fail to provide sufficient information, we will contact you within 24 hours after we receive the claim to provide notice of the specific information we need to complete our review of the claim. We will allow you up to 48 hours from the receipt of this notice to provide the necessary information. We will make our decision on the claim within 48 hours of (1) the time we received the additional information or (2) the end of the time frame, whichever is earlier. We may provide our decision orally within these time frames, but we will follow up with written or electronic notification within three days of oral notification. You may request that your urgent care claim on appeal be reviewed simultaneously by us and OPM. Please let us know that you would like a simultaneous review of your urgent care claim by OPM either in writing at the time you appeal our initial decision, or by calling us at HIP-TALK ( ). You may also call OPM's Health Insurance (HI) 3 at (202) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern time to ask for the simultaneous review. We will cooperate with OPM so they can quickly review your claim on appeal. In addition, if you did not indicate that your claim was a claim for urgent care, then call us at HIP-TALK ( ). If it is determined that your claim is an urgent care claim, we will hasten our review (if we have not yet responded to your claim). Emergency inpatient admission If your treatment needs to be extended How to request prior approval for Prescription Drugs If you have an emergency admission due to a condition that you reasonably believe puts your life in danger or could cause serious damage to bodily function, you, your representative, the physician, or the hospital must telephone us within 48 hours following the day of the emergency admission, even if you have been discharged from the hospital. If you request an extension of an ongoing course of treatment at least 24 hours prior to the expiration of the approved time period and this is also an urgent care claim, then we will make a decision within 24 hours after we receive the claim. Prior Approval is required to obtain certain prescription drugs. These drugs include migraine medications, anti-nausea medications, anti-fungal agents, anti-inflammatory agents, appetite suppressants, hepatitis C medications, fertility medications, growth hormones, leukotriene blocker asthma medications, smoking deterrents, eczema medications, vitamin A-based medications for treatment of cystic acne and other drugs and drug classes listed below Health Insurance Plan (HIP/HMO) 17 Section 3

20 If your prescription is for a drug that is subject to Prior Approval, your pharmacist will inform you, and you must notify your physician. Your physician should then contact our Pharmacy Benefits Services Department (PBSD) at Our PBSD staff and your physician will decide, based upon our clinical guidelines, whether the prescription is Medically Necessary and Appropriate for your treatment or condition. If you elect not to contact your physician, HIP will not cover the prescription and you will be responsible for the cost of the drug. If the prescription request is approved, the pharmacist will fill your prescription. If the prescription request is not approved, HIP will not cover the prescription. The individual prescription drugs listed below require Prior Approval. The drug list below shows each drug by its brand name and generic name. Amevive / alefacept Enbrel / etanercept Humira / adalimumab Kineret / anakinra Provigil / modafinil Regranex / becaplermin Somavert / pegvisomant Zyvox / linezolid Penlac / ciclopirox solution Tazorac / tazarotene Lidoderm / lidocaine patch Orencia / abatacept Sutent / sunitinib malate Nexavar / sorafenib tosylate Xeloda / capecitabine In addition, prescription drugs in the drug classes listed below are also subject to Prior Approval. Antihypertensive Agents Anti-Nausea Medications Anti-Depressant Medications Anti-Fungal Agents Anti-inflammatory Agents Appetite Suppressants Blood Pressure Medication Cholesterol Lowering Medications Diabetic Medication Eczema Medications Fertility Medications GI Medications that Block Acid Secretion Growth Hormones Hepatitis C Medications Leukotriene Blocker Asthma Medications Migraine Medications 2013 Health Insurance Plan (HIP/HMO) 18 Section 3